Lunar calendar



@@ L 51,935 u... E. MEANS ET Al, l

LUNAR CALENDAR Filed Aug. 28, 1954 Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES LUNAR CALENDAR Louis E. Means and Lucetta C. Means, Natick, Mass.

Application August 28, 1934, Serial No. '141,797

6 Claims.

Oul` invention relates to calendars having movable laminae, and particularly tolunar calendars of this character, by means of which a date one lunar month in advance of a given initial date may be made visible.

Our invention is particularly adapted to the determination of a. succeeding date oi menstruation for women.

The no-rmal menstrual period being a lunar month of 28 days, and the normal gestation period being ten lunar months or 280 days, it is usual to reckon a succeeding menstruation as four Weeks from the initial date of a period, the day of the week being considered rather than the day of the month.

The period of gestation is roughly considered as nine months from the initial date of the last period, but as the true period is ten lunar months or 280 days, there is a variation of from three to seven days additional according to the number of days in the included calendar months.

The object of our invention is to provide a device by means of which the date of a succeeding menstruation is indicated and the corresponding gestation period determined with facility. Our invention consists of a pair of laminae movable between a pair of cover plates, one of which has openings through which the required data is visible for any initial date.

In the accompanying specification and claims and the drawing forming a part thereof, we have described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of our invention, but do not confine ourselves to the particular embodiment as modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. l is a face view of a preferred embodiment of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan with the face lamina removed.

Fig. 4 shows the device set for the initial date of February 1 of leap year.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on line 5-5 Fig. 4, showing the septum separating the discs.

Fig. 6 is a face view of our device showing the cover for the opening in the face plate or lamina.

Fig. '1 shows the relation of the inscribed date numbers on one of the discs.

Referring to the drawing,

II), II are lamin formed from opaque sheet material and hereinafter referred to as the face plate and back plate. These plates are spaced and securely connected by studs I2.

Discs I3 and I4 are rotatable between the plates, respectively on the studs I5 projecting inwardly from the back plate II, and IB projecting inwardly from the face plate IU, the studs being so disposed that the disc I4 overlaps the disc I3 to 5 such extent that the initial dates inscribed, as Will be explained, on disc I3 will be exposed through the opening I1 in the face plate I9, and the lunar dates one lunar month ahead will be exposed through one of the openings, I1, I8, or I9, in the face plate IIJ. The contour of the plates is such that the periphery of the disc I3 is eX- posed at 20 and the periphery of the disc I4 at 2 I, permitting movement of the discs by a finger, 15 the disc I3 being notched on the periphery 22, and the disc I4 on its periphery 23. On the face of the disc I3, is inscribed three series of numbers arranged in concentric bands the outer band 24 being numbered from 1 to 31 and relating to the initial dates, the second band 25 being numbered from l to 31 and in lunar month relation to the initial dates for months of 3l days, and the third band being numbered from 1 to 30 in 25 lunar month relation to the initial dates for months having 30 days. The disc I4 is formed with projections 21 from the periphery and coordinated openings 28, the purpose of which will be presently described. The disc I4 is divided 30 radially into 24 parts equi-angular, and inscribed in duplicate are the months oi the year forming' a band interrupted by the openings and corresponding projections on which the particular month in the series is inscribed, this outer series 35 relating to the initial date, and the band as a whole being referred to as 29. Within this band is a second concentric band in which are similarly inscribed the months varying in position as shown in the band 30 by one angular space, and relating 40 to the corresponding lunar date succeeding and coordinated with the numbers in the band 35 on disc I3. The projections 21 formed on the periphery of the disc I4 are adapted to cover the numbers on the disc I3, in the band 25, as exposed through the opening I1 the openings 21 exposing the proper date for months having 30 days, the date appearing on the band 26 of the disc I3.

The projections are positioned in relation to the thirty day months and also to the month of February whether leap year or otherwise, the openings I8 and I9 exposing the lunar date on band 25 of disc I3, for both leap year and other years except as applying to the initial date of Feb. 1 in leap year in which case the lunar date is exposed through the opening I 1, and the projection 21' covers the date which would otherwise be exposed through the opening I8. In Fig. 1 the device is set with an initial date Feb. 15, the projection 21 covering the band 25 as exposed through the opening I1, the lunar reading for the succeeding date, being exposed through the openings I8 and I9. In Fig. 3 the device is set for an initial date of Jan. 1, and the corresponding lunar date succeeding would be exposed through the opening I1. In leap years as shown in Fig. 4 which is set for an initial date of Feb. 1, the succeeding lunar date would be Feb. 29 which is exposed through the opening 21' and I1, the projection 21 being extended to cover the date 3I in band 25 which would otherwise be exposed through the opening I8. Any other initial date would show the corresponding advanced lunar date either through the opening I8 in leap year or through opening I9 in other years. As Feb. l of leap year is the only date where a date one lunar month in advance would fall within the month, for any other February date the disc I4 is rotated to expose February, March and the projection 21 uncovers the numbers on band 25 as exposed through the opening I 8, and all other dates other than Feb. 29 in leap year, are exposed through that opening where the initial date comes in February. For other years and for initial dates occuring in February the corresponding date one lunar month in advance, is exposed through the opening I9, and for other months through the opening I1. In connection with the above described readings, we provide means for reckoning the gestation period from any initial date, and this forms a separate feature of our invention. This is done in the embodiment shown in the following manner;-

The face plate I0 is formed with openings therethrough 3l, 32 positioned radially with the axis of rotation of the disc I4 and angularly 9D degrees from the opening I1, and at a radial distance to expose through the opening, the ninth month from the initial month exposed through the opening I1. 'I'he width of the opening 3l radially is such that the months on the band 29 and those on the projections 21, 21 will be exposed, together with the openings 28 corresponding with the projections, and as the numbers on bands 24, 25 would be exposed according to the month, we provide a septum 320 between the discs, secured in position by two of the studs I2.

The ninth calendar month from the initial date is thus exposed through the opening 3l, but the normal gestation period being in excess of nine months in all cases, it is necessary to add a number of days according to the particular initial date, to indicate the full normal gestation period of ten lunar months or 280 days. Thus with an initial date of Feb. 15 as in Fig. 1, the month of November is exposed through the opening 3|, but from Feb. 15 to Nov. 15, nine calendar months, is 273 days in ordinary years, and 274 days in leap years, requiring the addition of seven days in the former case and six days in the latter, to complete the gestation period.

We therefore provide, radially with each month, and in separate concentric bands on the disc I4, the number referring to additional days necessary to complete the gestation period, those on the band 33 relating to ordinary years, and those on band 34 relating to leap years. These numbers are exposed through the opening 32, and are added to the date in the ninth calendar month exposed through the opening- 3I. It is thus readily evident to the user, that by setting the disc I3 to any initial date, that a date one lunar month in advance is shown through openings I1, I8 or I9 in the face plate I0, and theI period of gestation corresponding is readily ascertained through the openings 3l and 32. To protect the several openings from dust when not in use, We provide the cover 35, rotatable on the stud I6, and adapted to swing to cover the openings at will.

Having thus described our claim:-

1. A lunar calendar comprisingl in combination, a pair of cover plates having openings therethrough; a pair of laminae suitably inscribed, one with series of numbers arranged in parallel bands and respectively relating to initial dates, the corresponding date one lunar month in advance for months having thirty-one days, and like dates for months having thirty days, arranged relatively; the other lamina being inscribed with the months of the year in duplicate on a band and equi-- spaced, and duplicated on a parallel band similarly spaced to read alternately the same monthI and successive months, the lamina being formed' with lateral projections and corresponding openings, both laminae being movable within the plates independently in fixed contiguous paths invention, we

to cooperate in exposing through the openings in one plate, the initial date and the date one lunar month ahead.

2. A lunar calendar comprising in combination, a pair of spaced plates one having openings therethrough; a pair of discs suitably inscribed, one with series of numbers arranged in concentric bands and respectively relating to initial dates, the corresponding date one lunar month in advance for months having thirty one days, and

like dates for months having thirty days, radially f.

arranged relatively on separate concentric bands; the other disc being inscribed with the months or" the year in duplicate and concentrically arranged and equi-angularly spaced, and duplicated on an inner band similarly spaced to read alternately the same month and successive months, the disc being formed with peripheral projections and corresponding openings, both discs being independently rotatable within the plates and on separate axes, to cooperate in exposing through the openings in the plate, the initial date and the date one lunar month in advance.

3. A lunar calendar of the character described in claim 2, having the axes of the discs in such relation that the disc inscribed with months overlaps the numbered disc to expose any initial date and the corresponding date one lunar month in advance of the initial date through one or more openings in the face plate.

4. A lunar calendar of the character described in claim l; the openings in the plate being arranged to expose the lunar month dates relating to February through other openings than that through which the initial date is exposed.

5. A lunar calendar comprising .in combination a pair of spaced plates, one having openings therethrough: a pair of discs suitably inscribed, the one with series of numbers respectively relating to initial dates, and the corresponding dates one lunar month in advance for months of F respectively 31 days and 30 days, the other disc being inscribed with the months of the year in duplicate concentrically arranged and equi-angularly spaced and duplicated on an inner band similarly spaced to read alternately the same month and successive months, and series of numbers relating thereto and to the period of gestation, the discs being independently rotatable between the plates on separate axes, to cooperate to expose through the openings in the plate, the initial date, the date one lunar month in advance, the ninth month succeeding and the number of days to be added to the nine months from the initial date, to complete the gestation period of ten lunar months.

6. In a lunar calendar a disc inscribed with series of numbers respectively relating to initial dates, to the corresponding date one lunar month in advance for months having thirtyV one days, and for months having thirty days, each arranged in concentric bands in relation to the initial dates: a disc overlapping the first disc to expose a portion of the bands having initial dates and lunar dates for thirty one day months and having inscribed thereon the months of the year in duplicate concentrically arranged and equi-angularly spaced and duplicated on an inner band similarly spaced to read alternately the same month and successive months, and having projections radial with the thirty day and twenty eight day months adapted to overlap the dates in thirty one day lunar band and having correspending openings to expose numbers in the thirty day lunar band; and a pair of plates one having openings therethrough and each having an inward projection on which respective discs may be independently rotated to expose through the openings, the initial date and the corresponding lunar date one month in advance.

LOUIS E. MEANS.

LUCETTA C. MEANS. 

